Honors Research Grants
First-Year Honors Mentor Program Grant:
Grants up to $250 (individual) or $500 (group) are available to support research expenses incurred by students participating in the First-Year Honors Mentor Program. Requests for funds are made jointly by student(s) and mentor.
The submission deadline is the first Wednesday in February.
The guidelines to apply can be viewed here.
First-Year Honors Mentor Program Grant application (xls)
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Hector Arbuckle, Biology, and Audry Jenkins, Agronomy
Faculty mentor: Steven Bradbury
Project name: Effect of intraspecific competition on monarch (danaus plexippus) larval movement and survival
Alexander Bender, Animal Ecology, and Bradley Melvin, Microbiology
Faculty mentor: Vallareddy Anantharam
Project name: Apoptotic cell death signalling in cell culture models of Parkinson's Disease
Lauren Bilek, Horticulture, and Kaitlin Diggins, Environmental Science
Faculty mentor: Shuizhang Fei
Project name: Mechanism of triggering and breaking summer dormancy in sandberg bluegrass
Max Kigin, Biology, Luke Schaeckabach, Aerospace Engineering, and Isaac Schennum, Software Engineering
Faculty mentor: Karin Dorman
Project name: Merging illumina paired end reads
Kyra McMillin, Agricultural Biochemistry
Faculty mentor: W. Allen Miller
Project name: Mutagenesis of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E to confer viral resistance against positive RNA plant viruses containing PTE-like cap-independent translation element
Marcus Pull, Animal Ecology
Faculty mentor: Michael Weber
Project name: Assessment of methods to estimate age of bigmouth buffalo (ictiobus cyprinellus)
Grace Reineke, Horticulture
Faculty mentor: Ajay Nair
Project name: Microbial amendments for foliar and seed treatments in sustainable vegetable transplant production
Megan Smith, Environmental Science
Faculty mentor: Michael Weber
Project name: Assessing diet shifts of hatchery reared walleye sander vitreus
Lydia Stanley, Genetics
Faculty mentor: Thomas Lubberstedt
Project name: Spontaneous double haploid gene in maize
Caitlyn Thompson, Animal Science
Faculty mentor: Ganwa Li
Project name: Characterization of klebsiella pneumoniae mastitis cow
Ivy College of Business
College of Design
Carolyn Driskell, Pre Graphic Design, Brandon Edwards, Pre Architecture, and Annaka Ketterer, Pre Industrial Design
Faculty mentor: Varena Paepcke-Hjeltness
Project name: Using sketchnoting as a methodology for class reflection
College of Engineering
Celia Abolafia, Chemical Engineering
Faculty mentor: Wenya Huang
Project name: New intermetallic nanomaterials: synthesis and application in heterogeneous catalysis
Mathew Anders, Materials Engineering, Christian Gauker and Alexander Kom, Chemical Engineering
Faculty mentor: Ian Schneider
Project name: Understanding tumor cell migration using 3D topographical structures
Hailey Ator, Construction Engineering, and Max Fiascone, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty mentor: Junxing Zheng
Project name: Developing and validating 3D vision cone penetrometer to visualize underground soils
Olivia Bogle, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty mentor: Reza Montazami
Project name: Stress included crystalization in multiphase nanocomposites
Rachael Bryum, Mechanical Engienering
Faculty mentor: Michael Bartlett
Project name: Thermal conductivity in multifunctional soft matter composites
Ava Depping, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty mentor: Rachel Eike
Project name: Conductive embroidery antenna development and analysis
Alexandra Dunnum, Materials Engineering & Biochemistry, and Gabrielle Sawin, Kinesiology & Health
Faculty mentor: Donald Sakaguchi
Project name: Characterization of brain architecture after implantation of biomaterial scaffolds in zebrafish
Melia Finn, Industrial Engineering, and Jack McGonegle, Data Science
Faculty mentor: Kristen Cetin
Project name: Bridging the gap between academia and industry in approaches for solving complex, ill-structured problems
Zoe Follman, Materials Engineering
Faculty mentor: Greg Curtzwiler
Project name: Influence of postconsumer polyetylene content on the seal strength of impulse sealed pouches
Byron Frank, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty mentor: Cris Schwartz
Project name: Understanding polymer wear using a size scaling approach
Luke Geis and Shawn Husgen, Chemical Engineering
Faculty mentor: Eric Cochran
Project name: Renewable formadahyde free glycerol based adhesives for wood composites
Peter Gepson and Matthew O'Brien, Civil Engineering
Faculty mentor: Behrouz Shafei
Project name: Investigation of bonding mechanisms in non-conventional concrete reinforcement materials
Tyler Gerwig, Keaton Maier, and William Sibilski, Aerospace Engineering
Faculty mentor: Dae Young Lee
Project name: Autonomous control of multiple drones
Caleb Groff and Abigayle Moser, Aerospace Engineering
Faculty mentor: Hui Hu
Project name: Development of novel plasma-based anti-/de-icing strategies for aircraft icing mitigation
Ashlyn Haack, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty mentor: Sonal Padalker
Project name: Design a single thread cloth based cholesterol sensor: study the effects of mechanical variations on biosensor performance
Abigail Hammer, Aerospace Engineering
Faculty mentor: Kristin Rozier
Project name: Design and analysis of formal specification patterns
Ben Harwood and Brandon Lochner, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty mentor: Brian Steward
Project name: Characterizing the impact of contaminant particles in hydraullic systems
Lucas Heimer, Electrical Engineering
Faculty mentor: Long Que
Project name: Measurement of a-synuclein, a marker for Parkinson's disease, in buffer using nanosensor
Liam Herbst, Chemical Engineering
Faculty mentor: Eric Cochran
Project name: Scalable "one-pot" synthesis of acrylated epoxidized high oleic soybean oil for asphalt modification
Michael Huntley, Aerospace Engineering, Paul Iman, Mechanical Engineering, and Abigail Van Rheenen, Aerospace Engineering
Faculty mentor: Alice Alipour
Project name: Mitigating vibrations in tall buildings under extreme wind events
Mason Kenkel, Chemical Engineering, and Henry Thurber, Materials Engineering
Faculty mentor: Shan Jiang
Project name: Thin, light blocking coatings for packaging
Christar Kim, Biological Systems Engineering
Faculty mentor: Marshall McDaniel
Project name: Use of glycerin, a byproduct of biodiesel production, as a soil-health-enhancing ammendment
Joseph Kim, Industrial Engineering
Faculty mentor: Richard Stone
Project name: Project FREEDOM
Karter Krueger, Software Engineering
Faculty mentor: Alex Stoytchev
Project name: Autonomous floor-mapping robot
Joyce Lai, Electrical Engineering
Faculty mentor: Sree Nicakanta
Project name: Identification of novel biomarkers using a big data approach: integrating brain image with AD/PD databases
Abigail Libbesmeier, Mechanical Engienering
Faculty mentor: Sarah Bentil
Project name: Stereovision using a single camera to capture dynamic soft tissue deformation from multi-angles
Megan Lowell, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty mentor: Nicole Hashemi
Project name: Graphene/neuronal cell interactions
Nicholas Moulstad and Braden Westby, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty mentor: Juan Ren
Project name: Feedback control of nanopositioning stage
Josh Pandorf, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty mentor: Kevin Keener
Project name: High voltage atmospheric cold plasma's effect on soil
Matthew Penick, Aerospace Engineering
Faculty mentor: Sonal Padalkar
Project name: Designing highly efficient ni-based electrocatalysts for hydrogen generation
Ryan Pretzer, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty mentor: Nicole Hasemi
Project name: 3D electro-sensing platform for cell culture applications
Zack Rauth, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty mentor: Reza Montazami
Project name: Electro-jet printing of conjugated polymer inks
Lucas Roe and Cole Schlup, Agricultural Engineering
Faculty mentor: Mehari Tekeste
Project name: College soil machine dynamics laboratory
Matt Sporre, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty mentor: Xianglan Bai
Project name: Production of biorenewable materials
Ari Williams, Chemical Engineering
Faculty mentor: Eric Cochran
Project name: Towards biobased ABS
College of Human Sciences
Sydney Barlow and Emma Theis, Kinesiology & Health
Faculty mentor: James Lang
Project name: Duration of cardioprotection following remote ischemic preconditioning
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Grace Murphy, Chemistry
Faculty mentor: Eric Cochran
Project name: Glycerol based bio-polymers
Aubrey Uriel, Computer Science
Faculty mentor: Sree Nicakanta
Project name: Big data in a box
Michaela Verwers, Biochemistry
Faculty mentor: Nancy Boury
Project name: Determination of microbacterium foliorum's visibility and suitability as a phage host in storage at stationary phase
University Honors Program Grants:
Grants of up to $750 are available to help cover project expenses for Honors capstone projects.
The submission deadlines for the UHP Grant applications are October 13, November 10, February 2, and March 30.
The guidelines to apply can be viewed here. This application has been transitioned to an online Qualtrics form. If you submit the originial Excel version, you will need to obtain physical signatures.
Note: Funding will not be available until fall 2020, but students can apply in spring 2020.
University Honors Program Grant application
Stephanie Bias
Faculty mentor: Chin-Hsun Tsai - Apparel, Events, and Hospitality Management
Project name: Defining and Analyzing Attendee Motivation Factors for Vegan Festivals
Claire Birchmier
Faculty mentor: Kevin Schalinske - Food Science and Human Nutrition
Project name: Effects of Egg Supplementation on Attenuating Disease States of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Grace Kline
Faculty mentor: Fredric Janzen - Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology
Project name: A Comparative Analysis of Genetic Convergence Underlying Similar Patterns of TSD
Laura Kurr
Faculty mentor: Jonathan Mochel - Biomedical Sciences
Project name: A 3D In Vitro Model of Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease for Accelerating Drug Safety and Efficacy Testing
Hannah Sams
Faculty mentor: Daniel Russel - Human Development and Family Studies
Project name: Analyzing Loneliness Causes and Consequences in College Freshmen
Kenna Short
Faculty mentor: Jim Heise - Mechanical Engineering
Project name: Interactive Console Design for a Mars Rover Exhibit at the Science Center of Iowa
Evan Wieczorek
Faculty mentor: Tomas Gonzalez - Aerospace Engineering
Project name: Hydraulic and Electronic Actuator System Development for ISU's BuonyanCY Laboratory
Stewart Research Award:
Grants of up to $750 are available to help cover project expenses for Honors capstone and other research projects. Projects of publishable quality receive preference
Submission deadlines for the Stewart Research Award application are November 10 and, funds permitting, February 2.
The guidelines to apply can be viewed here. This application has been transitioned to an online Qualtrics form. If you submit the originial Excel version, you will need to obtain physical signatures.
Note: Funding will not be available until fall 2020, but students can apply in spring 2020.
Sparsh Agarwal
Faculty mentor: Nigel Reuel - Chemical and Biological Engineering
Project name: Substrate-wrapped Carbon Nanotubes as a Generalizable Sensor for Screening Enzymes for Biomass Degradation
Holly Appleton
Faculty mentor: Melha Mellata - Food Science and Human Nutrition
Project name: High Voltage Atmospheric Cold Plasma Degradation of Pathogenic Fungal Spores and Derivative Toxins
Kaela Gollob
Faculty mentor: Bill Simpkins - Geological and Atmospheric Sciences
Project name: Transport and Denitrification of Nitrate-N from a Losing Reach of the South Skunk River into an Alluvial Aquifer in Ames, Iowa
Laura Kurr
Faculty mentor: Jonathan Mochel - Biomedical Sciences
Project name: A 3D In Vitro Model of Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease for Accelerating Drug Safety and Efficacy Testing
Macy Morrow
Faculty mentor: James Lang - Kinesiology
Project name: Post-menopausal Differences in Response to Angiotensin II
Honors Student Enrichment Grant:
Grants of up to $300 are available to help cover project expenses related to travel and/or registration for academic conferences. Preference is given to Honors capstone research and other academic research.
The University Honors Committee reviews submissions on a rolling basis, funds permitting. Once funding has been allocated for a given academic semester, the website will be updated and further applications will not be accepted until the following semester.
Student Enrichment Grant application
Elea Kaptain
Elea is a senior majoring in English Education and Spanish Education. She worked with Dr. Joseph Cheatle in the Dean of Students Office to research writing center practice and theory, specifically how the behavior of writing center tutors contribute to a successful learning environment for non-native English speakers. This grant allowed Elea to present her project, “Tutorial alliance and session success with non-native English speakers in the writing and media center,” at the International Writing Center Association Conference in Columbus, Ohio.
Project advisor: Dr. Joseph Cheatle, Dean of Students Office
Abigayle Moser
Abigayle is a sophomore majoring in aerospace engineering who has been participating in undergraduate research for a full year. She is particularly interested in issues pertinent to energy opportunities within global sustainability and renewable resources. Abigayle will present her project, “Effect of complex terrains on wind energy production,” at the American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics in Seattle, Washington.
Project advisor: Dr. Luciano Castillo, Mechanical Engineering
Dr. Robert M. Melampy Grant:
A Grant of up to $500 is available to students in Animal Science to help cover project expenses related to the research they are doing within their field of study. Preference will be given to students participating in the First-Year Honors Mentor Program, and only one Melampy Grant will be awarded each year for a Spring or Summer term.
The submission deadline for the Dr. Robert M. Melampy Grant is the first Wednesday in February for spring or summer research. Click here for the Melampy Grant application.
Gabby DiRusso
Gabby is a senior in Animal Science originally from Middletown, Delaware. She is involved in campus organizations such as the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Ambassadors, Block & Bridle Club, and Intercollegiate Meat Judging Team. Throughout her time at Iowa State she has been involved with research focused on beef cattle both at the ISU College of Veterinary medicine and the Hansen Ruminant Nutrition Lab. This fall she is most looking forward to completing her Honors Capstone Project with Dr. Stephanie Hansen looking at the relationship between feeding behavior and the occurence of liver abscesses in feedlot cattle.
Lauren Tidgren
Lauren is a sophomore in Animal Science originally from Caroll, Iowa. Her interest in veterinary medicine led to her involvement in swine disease research in the First Year Mentor Program, which she has continued through the summer with the assistance of the Melampy Research Grant.
For a complete list of our past grant recipients, visit our Grant Recipient Archive page.